- The governing body confirmed that it will continue appointing top African judges and lawyers to its Disciplinary and Appeal Boards
- Motsepe said the reforms were developed after extensive consultations with both African and international football legal experts
- CAF is implementing comprehensive reforms to its Statutes and Regulations to restore confidence in our officials
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced major reforms to its statutes and regulations aimed at restoring confidence in referees, VAR officials, and judicial bodies following the contentious final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a statement released on Sunday, March 29, Eko Hot Blog gathered that CAF explained that the changes are intended to prevent controversies similar to those that marred the tournament’s final and to strengthen the credibility of African match officials.
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The governing body confirmed that it will continue appointing top African judges and lawyers to its Disciplinary and Appeal Boards. “CAF will maintain the practice of selecting the most respected African judges and lawyers for the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board,” the statement said.
“These appointments are made by the CAF Executive Committee and the Ordinary General Assembly, based on recommendations from the 54 CAF Member Associations and Zonal Unions. The independence and impartiality of CAF’s Judicial Bodies remain essential.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the reforms were developed after extensive consultations with both African and international football legal experts. He explained that the updates are designed to rebuild trust in referees, VAR operators, match commissioners, and CAF’s disciplinary bodies.
“CAF is implementing comprehensive reforms to its Statutes and Regulations to restore confidence in our officials and ensure incidents like those at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 final are never repeated,” Motsepe said.
He added that CAF is collaborating with FIFA to provide ongoing training for African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners to reach world-class standards, while also improving their professionalization and compensation.
Motsepe emphasized that CAF is committed to impartiality, equality, and zero tolerance for corruption, noting that these values have strengthened the organization’s reputation among sponsors and partners.
“Every Member Association will be treated fairly; no preferential treatment will be allowed,” he said.
CAF also noted that matters related to the AFCON 2025 final are currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, the body is focusing on ongoing competitions such as the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, while preparing African national teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States.
“We are confident that our teams will make Africa proud on the world stage,” Motsepe concluded.
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